Pine Bush Triathlon offers chance to team up or go solo

Teams get to participate in the events together, or solo

By Jason Franchuk

Updated 8:25 pm, Friday, July 17, 2015

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John Meany, top left, Linda Meany, top right, Jennifer Meany, middle right, and Patrick Meany, bottom left. John, Linda and Jennifer are teaming up to compete in the Pine Bush Triathlon on Sunday, July 19, 2015. (Courtesy of Meany family) less

John Meany, top left, Linda Meany, top right, Jennifer Meany, middle right, and Patrick Meany, bottom left. John, Linda and Jennifer are teaming up to compete in the Pine Bush Triathlon on Sunday, July 19, ... more

Pine Bush Triathlon offers chance to team up or go solo

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Linda Meany's husband scanned the Pine Bush Triathlon entry procedures and felt like he could knock enough rust off his swim strokes.

"He noticed that if you were struggling, you could raise your arm up and someone would rescue you," she said, recalling the lifeguard conversation with a laugh.

That's not the only buoy the race will provide during a 15-mile Sunday morning. Three Meany family members have been lured to the Pine Bush among 168 individuals and about 100 more who have been coaxed to try because of a less intimidating format that allows teams to split up the swim, bike and run.

John Meany, 55, of Guilderland, will take on the 325 yards of open water at 8 a.m. He used to swim in eighth and ninth grade but, frankly, hasn't competed in years and didn't prepare for a race he entered in mid-June. But no one else from the family really wanted to swim, just as he wasn't exactly eager to run.

He'll start the day then tag same-aged Linda, who will bike 11.5 miles. Their 27-year-old daughter, Jennifer, a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Albany Medical Center, will then run 3.25 miles to finish the day.

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Linda joked that she's worried the family will be wrapping up after awards have been handed out — two hours after the first horn.

But that, of course, is beside the point.

Jennifer convinced her recently retired mom to join a fitness center last December and the family from Bethlehem — also with an athletic son, Patrick, 26, cheering from the sidelines — to get into gear. (John's sister, Kathy, will be doing the three events by herself, as well.)

"We don't train together, but we're all pretty self-motivated," Linda Meany said while taking a brief break from a Friday training session.

Andrew Scott, the wellness director at the Guilderland YMCA, said the team concept has been increasingly popular in recent years and "something we like to encourage," as Linda Meany pointed out her daughter noticed advertisements posted on Western Avenue.

Scott added that the Pine Bush event draws entrants from around the Northeast. But he also points out it's not just the race course or format which draws entries.

"We have a ton of volunteers from the community, about 50," Scott said. "There's people who are involved with this particular (recreation center) branch, or they're into the logistics of the event. And there are people who want to cheer others on, see people accomplish their goals and hopefully have a great time."

The swim portion of the race begins at Rensselaer Lake, which is part of the Pine Bush Preserve. Family sources say John has declined to pull out the old Bethlehem Central gear, or razor.

"We're not looking to break any records," he said. "We just want to finish every segment. I'm there for fun. I don't know exactly how it'll work out. I know that I won't be racing the guy next to me. But maybe that will motivate me, too."

The bike begins at the southern end of the lake and follows the paved path west. It then turns west onto the Washington Ave. Extension, and turns north on to Route 155/New Karner Road and then west on to Old State Road.

The run will start south on Winding Brook Drive near the Guilderland YMCA, and veer toward Nott Road.

A free post-race massage and prizes for top finishers, teams and age groups are among the highlights.